Rehabilitation Counseling, Non-Thesis, MA

Department of Health and Community Studies, Woodring College of Education

Graduate Faculty

Boland, Elizabeth, PhD
Brickham, Dana, PhD

Program Director: Dr. Elizabeth Boland, 425-405-1645, Elizabeth.Boland@wwu.edu.

Associate Graduate Faculty

Bengtson, Kevin, PhD

Program Information

Rehabilitation Counseling is a systematic process that partners with persons with physical, sensory, mental, developmental, cognitive, and emotional disabilities while emphasizing the holistic nature of human function. Rehabilitation counselors are competent to provide an assessment of abilities and functional limitations, develop plans consistent with individual needs, and partner with clients in achieving their goals through a variety of modalities including individual and group counseling, vocational training and education, and job development and placement. Rehabilitation counseling is a dynamic, exciting field with excellent employment opportunities in both the public and private sectors, including state and federal rehabilitation agencies, nonprofit agencies, veteran’s programs, workers’ compensation agencies, hospitals, and universities.

The 90-credit degree program is completed through a combination of face-to-face, hybrid, and online courses. Courses are offered at the program’s off-campus site located at the Everett University Center on the Everett Community College campus. The program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

For further information, see the Rehabilitation Counseling program website at wce.wwu.edu/rc/rehabilitation-counseling.

Goals

The mission of the Master of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling program is to prepare dedicated and qualified rehabilitation counselors who will partner with individuals with disabilities to enhance their lives, including self-determination, independence, meaningful employment, and full community participation.

The objectives of the program are:

• To offer a quality curriculum that prepares master’s level rehabilitation counselors with the knowledge and skills necessary to ethically and competently serve and advocate with individuals with disabilities.
• To recruit and retain qualified students for a viable program that includes persons from diverse racial and cultural backgrounds and individuals with disabilities.
• To promote an inclusive learning community that enriches student experience and education and promotes full participation of all students.
• To create opportunities for student interaction with individuals with disabilities as well as individuals from culturally diverse backgrounds.
• To efficiently and effectively enhance the program by obtaining regular and timely feedback from students, the advisory committee, field experience site supervisors, consumers, graduates, and employers

Application Information

Admit Quarters: Fall

Application Deadlines: Priority deadline: April 1; Final deadline: June 1

Supporting Materials:

Candidates must meet the requirements of the Graduate School in addition to the following departmental requirements:

• Three current references
• A current résumé
• The Statement of Purpose should be a succinct statement (two to three pages) that provides an accurate indication of writing and grammatical skills.
  • The Statement of Purpose must include information on the following:
    • Your reason(s) for applying, including your rationale for seeking the Master’s degree and choosing the Rehabilitation Counseling program at WWU
    • Professional and personal strengths as they apply to the field of rehabilitation counseling
    • Relevant experiences in life, work, and/or schooling
    • Your goals and interests that demonstrate and illustrate your personal value system
    • Your career objectives
    • You can also include any additional information or insights that you consider relevant to your application.
• A personal interview with the Academic Program Director.
• A signed statement indicating an understanding and intention to comply with the program’s essential functions and expectations for academic and professional performance.
• Successful completion of the program background check.
• Access to computer, necessary software, and computer competencies are required

Please upload supporting materials with the application.

Admission

Successful candidates must demonstrate their commitment to working with individuals with disabilities to assist them in adjusting to the psychological, social, medical, and vocational impact of a disability on their lives. The commitment may be demonstrated by either work or volunteer experiences with persons with disabilities. Applicants are expected to demonstrate strong writing skills.

Retention

In addition to Graduate School and University policies, retention in the Rehabilitation Counseling program is dependent upon the development of professional competencies in interaction with clients and other professionals, especially as related to the program’s essential functions and expectations for academic and professional performance. Development of professional competencies is monitored and evaluated on an annual basis by the faculty of the program and will serve as a basis for retention of the student in the Rehabilitation Counseling program.